Rematch between Kasparov and Karpov

On 21st to 24th September, 2009 there will be a rematch between two former World Champions Garry Kasparov and Anatoly Karpov which will be held in Valencia, Spain. They will play 12 games match consist of 4 rapid (or semi rapid) and 8 blitz games.

According to current FIDE rating, Garry Kasparov is now rate as world rank no. 2 with rating 2812 (see here), but the latest games recorded by FIDE played by Kasparov is only on April 2005 (see here). While Anatoly Karpov is now rate as world rank no. 101 (see here) and his latest games recorded by FIDE was played on January 2009 (see here).

According to chessdom.com, one of the reasons behind accepting to play the match in Spain was that it was the country where they played the 4th match for the World Championship title in 1987. The last game of that match was something that the chess world dreams until today – it was televised by TVE (Spanish national TV) and was followed live by 13 million people.

During the World Championship Match in 1987, there were 24th games played by them whereby the result of the match was draw 12 points each which Kasparov won 4 games and Karpov also won 4 games and the rest of the games were draw. During the last round, Karpov was leading by one point ahead which means that Karpov only need a draw to get back his title as World Champion, while Kasparov must won the last game to enable him to defend his title as World Champion.

Even playing in high tension, it was very lucky to Kasparov that he managed to won the last game. You may see this one of the most historical chess game in chess history below. Karpov tried to fight until the end but finally had to admit that he lost that most important game in his life.

Kasparov,Garry (2740) - Karpov,Anatoly (2700) [A14]

World Championship 34th-KK4 Sevilla (24), 18.12.1987

[Event "World Championship"]
[Date "1987.12.18"]
[White "Kasparov, Garry"]
[Black "Karpov, Anatoy"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "A14"]



1.c4 e6 2.Nf3 Nf6 3.g3 d5 4.b3 Be7 5.Bg2 O-O 6.O-O b6 7.Bb2 Bb7 8.e3 Nbd7 9.Nc3 Ne4 10.Ne2 a5 11.d3 Bf6 12.Qc2 Bxb2 13.Qxb2 Nd6 14.cxd5 Bxd5 15.d4 c5 16.Rfd1 Rc8 17.Nf4 Bxf3 18.Bxf3 Qe7 19.Rac1 Rfd8 20.dxc5 Nxc5 21.b4 axb4 22.Qxb4 Qa7 23.a3 Nf5 24.Rb1 Rxd1+ 25.Rxd1 Qc7 26.Nd3 h6 27.Rc1 Ne7 28.Qb5 Nf5 29.a4 Nd6 30.Qb1 Qa7 31.Ne5 Nxa4 32.Rxc8+ Nxc8 33.Qd1 Ne7 34.Qd8+ Kh7 35.Nxf7 Ng6 36.Qe8 Qe7 37.Qxa4 Qxf7 38.Be4 Kg8 39.Qb5 Nf8 40.Qxb6 Qf6 41.Qb5 Qe7 42.Kg2 g6 43.Qa5 Qg7 44.Qc5 Qf7 45.h4 h5 46.Qc6 Qe7 47.Bd3 Qf7 48.Qd6 Kg7 49.e4 Kg8 50.Bc4 Kg7 51.Qe5+ Kg8 52.Qd6 Kg7 53.Bb5 Kg8 54.Bc6 Qa7 55.Qb4 Qc7 56.Qb7 Qd8 57.e5 Qa5 58.Be8 Qc5 59.Qf7+ Kh8 60.Ba4 Qd5+ 61.Kh2 Qc5 62.Bb3 Qc8 63.Bd1 Qc5 64.Kg2 1-O